Action Research

HOW TO WRITE THE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

1. Contextualize the problem. What do we know already?

2. Describe the exact issue of your research will address. What do we still need
to know?
3. Describe the relevance of the problem.
Why do we need to know more about this?
4. Set the objective of the research.
Example of a research problem statement:
The increasing number of learners in the elementary who are slow readers is a
great concern of educators. Despite the efforts of the reading teachers to develop
the learners’ reading skills, many are still groping in the dark.
From the statement, you can formulate the questions. (These are the problems if
your study is about poor reading comprehension)
1. How many percent of the learners are slow readers in the class?
Slow readers:
A. 0-10 %
B. 11-20%
C. 21-30%
2. What factors caused the learners to not develop their competencies in reading?
a. Poor study habits
b. No reading materials at home
c. No one to help them read at home
d. etc
3. How effective is the use of short reading passages in improving the reading skills of the learners? ( You may
use a rank list here or a scale)
5 - excellent
4 - very good
3 - good
2- satisfactory
1 - unsatisfactory
HOW TO WRITE THE PROBLEM STATEMENT
1. Answer the 5 W’s
2. Describe the ideal situation
3. Explain the problem and why it matters
4. Explore the problem costs
5. Support your claim with facts
For you research, at least 3 problems will be enough. The last question should
present the solution to the problem.
HYPOTHESIS
Somehow in your study you can do some predictions of the outcome. They may
be wild guesses but as soon as you are through with the survey of the related
literature, you are ready to state the real hypothesis.
Gay (1976) defined hypothesis as a “tentative explanation for certain behaviors,
phenomena, or events which have occurred or will occur. It states your
expectations concerning the relationship between the variables in your research
problem.
It is a testable statement of a potential relationship between two or more variables
or effects or variables on other variables.
Example
:

Statement of the Problem:

What is the efficacy of using short passages to improve the reading skills of grade
4 learners?
Research Hypothesis:
There is no relationship between the use of short passages to improving the
reading skills of grade four learners.
Example:
How will the use of video clips improve the participation of students in the class?
Hypothesis:
The use of video clips does not have an effect in improving the participation of the students in
the class.
(In stating the hypothesis, always use the null hypothesis. )
The null hypothesis predicts that there is no difference, relationship, effect nor interaction. Null
means no existence or that it is empty.
On the other hand, alternative hypothesis indicates that there will be difference, relationship or
effect between the variables.
Therefore, why still conduct a study when you know the results.
PARTS OF CHAPTER 1: The Problem and Background of the
Study
A. Introduction
B. Statement of the Problem
C. Hypothesis of the Study
D. Scope and Limitations of the Study
E. Significance of the Study
F. Definition of Terms
A. Introduction
Use the funnel approach in discussing the problem. From a wide perspective, state why
the problem is present. Support this with facts.

Example. If the problem you have chosen is about the poor reading comprehension of
learners, cite situations that this problem also exists in other parts of the world. How
many are also poor readers. What is the percentage?

Then narrow this down to the national level. Is the problem also happening in some parts
of the country? How many were identified to be poor in comprehension. Then cite the
present situation in your locality.

This will make the readers aware that the problem really needs to be solved, hence, your
study is timely and appropriate.
B. Statement of the Problem:
This is the most important part of the study or the research paper. This is the focus of the study and all
questions should be categorically answered.

In other words, the statement of the problem will justify the need for the intervention to solve the problem.

Please be guided by the 3 levels of inquiry:

Level 1. Questions asked when the researcher has limited knowledge of the topic. Example: What is the
profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 Age

1.2 Sex

1.3 Educational status of parents

1.4 Economic status of parents

2. Level 2. Questions about relationships or effects of variables.
Example: Is there a relationship between the use of video clips and the
increased participation of learners?
Level 3. Research questions are those which assume relationships and
effects, involves more variables, outcomes and predictions.
What is the perceived effect of using video clips to the improvement of
participation of the learners?
What solution can be forwarded to solve the problem?
Scope and Limitation of The Study
The scope of your study defines where and when the study is conducted and who
are the respondents.

A limitation is an aspect of the investigation which may affect the results adversely
but over which you have no control.

You mention in your study that it is limited only to the group of learners mentioned
in the scope and to the particular school.
Significance of the Study
Your study should have a value not only to yourself but also to the teachers,
administration of the school, even to DepEd authorities and lawmakers, the
community, the respondents themselves and the future researchers.

For example in the study about poor reading comprehension, conducting the study
will benefit the following:

Teachers - as the study will make teaching light, enjoyable and easy as students
are able to understand the lesson well

School - with the learners able to comprehend, the academic performance of the
school will be improved.
Definition of Terms
One of the first things you have to do in your study is to define important terms. This
is done for the purpose of knowing their meanings and for you to communicate the
said meaning to your readers. Sometimes, the real meaning of the term is not
understood in the study, because probably it is abstract, so the operational definition
of the term is necessary.

Conceptual definition refers to the definition found in dictionaries. It is the academic

or universal meaning given to a word or group of words.

Operational or Functional Definition - refers to the specific way or the meaning used
in your study. In short, this is the definition or meaning of the word that operates or
functions in your investigation.